Lake Plastiras

For the municipality in Greece, see Lake Plastiras (municipality).

Lake Plastiras (Greek: Λίμνη Πλαστήρα) also called Tavropos Reservoir (Greek: Τεχνητή Λίμνη Ταυρωπού) is an artificial lake fed by Tavropos (Megdovas) river, located in Karditsa regional unit, near the city of Karditsa, Greece. The lake is named after the Greek general and politician Nikolaos Plastiras, who was the first to visualize the construction of an artificial lake in the area.

Lake Plastira
Λίμνη Πλαστήρα (Greek)
A Sentinel-2 satellite image from March 2023.
Lake Plastira
Coordinates	39°17′50″N 21°45′09″E
Type	Artificial lake
Primary inflows	Tavropos
Primary outflows	Tavropos
Basin countries	Greece
Built	October 30, 1960 (1960-10-30)
First flooded	1962
Max. length	12 km (7.5 mi)
Max. width	4 km (2.5 mi)
Surface area	24 km2 (9.3 sq mi)
Max. depth	60 m (200 ft)
Water volume	400×10^6 m3 (320,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation	792 m (2,598 ft)

Initial plans

The idea of building a reservoir in the area was allegedly first conceived by general Nikolaos Plastiras who, in 1925, was visiting his hometown in the area. During this time the whole area was devastated by a major flood of the river Tavropos. He exerted pressure on the Ministry of Agriculture, who by 1929 assembled a committee to investigate the situation. Politicians opposed the plan for the next years, up to the Second World War.

Creating the reservoir

After the war, the idea was revived by Plastiras as he was proclaimed Prime Minister. The (then newly formed) Power Corporation adopted the project as part of their effort to electrify the country. An international contest was held in 1953 that was won by the French Omniun Lyonnais. The building of the dam started on December 14, 1955. On October 30, 1960, the dam was officially inaugurated, although the flooding may have started as early as the last months of 1959.

The lake today

Today the lake holds up to 400 million cubic meters of fresh water. It is used for irrigation and as a power source of a hydroelectric plant, but also as the main water source to the city of Karditsa. Due to its altitude (one of the highest in Europe) the Tavropos Reservoir is a popular tourist resort in Greece, as the formed landscape is quite unique.

Gallery

• 
  Tavropos Reservoir
• 
  View of Plastiras Lake (alternative names: Tavropos Lake or Megdovas Lake)
• 
  View of Plastiras Lake. The photograph was taken from the area of Plaz Lamperou.
• 
  The lake by night
• 
  Another view of the lake

See also

• Plastiras Dam

Bibliography

• Paul Hellander, Greece. Lonely Planet 2008

External links

• Lake Plastiras